You may think of heart disease as a man’s disease, but nothing could be further from the truth. It’s the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help prevent heart disease. And the steps you take to protect your heart will also make you feel good and give you more energy. That’s a “win-win” for you and your heart.

Women’s Hearts, Men’s Hearts

There are several important gender differences in heart disease. While many of the risk factors are the same for men and women, women have some risk factors that men don’t have. And time of onset, diagnosis, symptoms and treatment can be different for men and women, too.

Women’s and men’s hearts are different physically. Women’s hearts are usually smaller, have thinner chamber walls and function differently when reacting to stress.

Some risk factors women have that men don’t include health problems like endometriosis and polycystic ovary disease that increase the risk of heart disease.

Another difference between the genders is later onset for women. Before menopause, estrogen helps protect women’s hearts, so females develop heart disease about 10 years later than males.

Heart disease often occurs for both men and women when large arteries near the heart become clogged. But in some women, the disease occurs in the tiniest arteries, which can make it harder to diagnose. This condition might be partially caused by the drop in estrogen levels after menopause.

A problem called “broken heart syndrome” mainly affects women, too. It occurs when extreme emotional stress causes the heart muscle to fail briefly. The symptoms are like those of congestive heart failure.

Symptoms of both heart disease and heart attacks can also be different in women and men. For example, women are less likely than men to have chest pain during a heart attack. And some women have no obvious heart attack symptoms. That means women and emergency room doctors should be more alert for other signs of a heart attack.

Women are more likely than men to not get the proper medicines after a heart attack. And they are more likely to have another heart attack within the next year.

So what can you do to protect yourself?

Protect Your Heart

The first step in protecting women’s hearts is to be aware of the risks and symptoms that are specific to women in addition to those that both men and women face.

There are also lifestyle choices and changes you can make to reduce your risk. By controlling risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and obesity, women and men can help keep their heart healthy.

Watch your blood pressure when taking some medicines. Some women who take birth control pills have an increase in blood pressure. To lower your risk for heart attack or stroke, your health provider should perform a screening for high blood pressure before you take the pill. In addition, some women’s blood pressure may rise when they take hormones. All women who take birth control pills or other hormones should have their blood pressure checked regularly.

It’s important to try for at least 150 minutes each week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, bicycling or dancing. You should also try to get in two or more days of muscle-strengthening activities per week.

If you’re looking to lose weight, you’ll need to do more. Aim for 60 to 90 minutes of aerobic activity a day. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women website has ideas and inspiration to help you get going.

Choose healthy foods. What you eat affects your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The good news is that the small changes you start making today will add up over time.

Women who drink alcohol should have no more than one drink a day. Too much alcohol raises blood pressure.

If you smoke, quit. Smoking damages blood vessels and increases heart attack risk. And tobacco use is a leading cause of disease and disability. Smoking is the most avoidable cause of disease and death. If you need help to quit smoking, ask your health care provider about medication and consider using resources such as smoking cessation hotlines and support groups.

Increased awareness and these lifestyle tips can help you and your doctor work together to prevent heart disease and heart attacks.

Get your screenings.

If you haven’t had regular preventive care screenings with your doctor, start today. As a Blue Cross and Blue Shield member, your preventive screenings, including those related to heart health like blood pressure and cholesterol checks, are covered at 100 percent as part of your benefits.*

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015

Cold weather can create a perfect storm of heart attack risk factors.

Do you know that cold weather can decrease the supply of oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle?

When your heart is forced to work harder, like when you’re active, your heart may need more oxygen-rich blood.

When you have a reduced supply of oxygen to the heart along with more demand for oxygen, your heart may not be able to adjust for these requirements, which could result in a heart attack.

February is American Heart Month and a great time to pay attention to your heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both males and females. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to a heart attack.

While some heart attacks are sudden and intense where no one doubts what’s happening, other heart attacks can start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help.

Know the major symptoms of a heart attack:

Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back

Feeling weak, light-headed or faint

Chest pain or discomfort

Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulder

Shortness of breath

Nausea (an additional symptom in women)

Follow these guidelines and stay smart about your heart:

Know the signs of a heart attack.

Keep your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol in a healthy range.

Talk to your doctor about your numbers and whether medication is needed.

Exercise most days of the week.

Do not smoke or use tobacco.

Limit alcohol use.

If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911 right away.

Want to know more about heart health?

Visit the Heart Health section of the LifeTimes website for information about how to eat right for your heart, how your family history can impact your risk for heart disease and more.

*Preventive services at no cost applies only to members enrolled in non-grandfathered health plans. You may have to pay all or part of the cost of preventive care if your health plan is grandfathered. To find out if your plan is grandfathered or non-grandfathered, call the customer service number on your member ID card.